[The posterior interosseous flap in the child: 13 case reports].

INTRODUCTION

The posterior interosseous flap is used to cover skin defects in the hand, wrist, forearm and elbow. It is currently, commonly indicated for adults, but it may be used for child too.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: Twelve children underwent a posterior interosseus flap (13 flaps). Their ages ranged from 3 to 17.5 years with a mean of 6.5 years. There were seven boys and five girls. The flaps were used to treat different type of lesions: the most frequent etiology was burn injuries or sequels (nine patients), there were one extravasation of anticarcinogenic agent, one syndactyly and one arthrogryposis. The localizations of the skin loss were the first web space (six patients), the dorsal hand (five patients) and the elbow (two patients).

RESULTS

The average of the operation was eighty minutes. The survival of the flaps was excellent. Only one flap had a partial necrosis.

CONCLUSION

Posterior interosseus flap may be used in coverage of children's limb. The diameter of the vessels is not a difficulty in the flap dissection. As the adults, the viability of the flap is excellent and allows to cover most of the skin defect of the dorsal hand or elbow.